Process and apparatus for storing weft yarn in looms

ABSTRACT

The method and apparatus for storing weft yarn to facilitate the picking of a length or multiple of a length generally corresponding to the woven width, and in which a single thread is continuously loaded onto a storage body in a zig-zag pattern forming reversal loops at terminal ends of the zig-zags, the storage body being generally cylindrical including means for automatically loading the same, and including means for removing weft threads which are maintained under positive mechanical control by the apparatus for minimizing snarls and weaving faults.

United States Patent [151 3,680,600 Porter [45] Aug. 1, 1972 [54] PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FOREIGN PATENTS )R APPLICATIONS STORING WEFT YARN IN LOOMS [72] Inventor: Allan W. H. Porter, CH-9062 Lustmuhle/AR, Stosswald 1290, Switzerland [22] Filed: Dec. 19, 1969 [21] Appl. No.2 886,516

52 U.S. Cl. ..139/122 R [51] Int. Cl. ..D03d 47/36 [58] Field of Search ..66/84, 85; 139/116, 122, 1, 139/127 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 3,263,705 8/1966 Rossmann ..l39/122 3,376,901 4/1968 Stralte ..139/127 3,446,038 5/1969 Inui ..66/84 3,523,432 8/1970 Vajada et a] ..66/85 447,580 10/1969 Switzerland 1 39/1 22 Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon AttorneyBrowdy and Neimark [57] ABSTRACT The method and apparatus for storing weft yarn to facilitate the picking of a length or multiple of a length generally corresponding to the woven width, and in which a single thread is continuously loaded onto a storage body in a zig-zag pattern forming reversal loops at'terrninal ends of the zig-zags, the storage body being generally cylindrical including means for automatically loading the same, and including means for removing weft threads which are maintained under positive mechanical control by the apparatus for minimizing snarls and weaving faults.

36 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDA B 1 I97? SHEET 02 0F 10 IXVENTOR PATENTEDAuc H972 3.680.600

sum 070F10 INVE "FOR.

PATENTED M13 1 I973 sum 08 UF-10 INVENTOR /Zd. Z;

PATENTED 1 SHEET 09 HF 10 MP OE INVENTOR.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR STORING WEFI' YARN IN LOOMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a process for the storing of weft yarn in looms whereby the weft yarn is drawn off fixed supply bobbins arranged outside the loom shed and is carried through the shed by a pirn-less picking element, and further concerns a device for the application of the said process.

Weft yarn storing devices of this general type for looms are known. They consist essentially of drumshaped bodies whose length is of the magnitude of their diameter and around whose circumference weft yarn is wound and unwound. The drawback of these systems is their great radial space requirement, and that it is not easy to select and grasp the trailing end of a measured length of yarn wound on them.

Also known are weft yarn auxiliary storing devices which are arranged between the supply bobbins and the picking element and in which the weft yarn is wound in several layers onto conical bodies. The object of this arrangement is to avoid jerks in drawing off the thread from the supply bobbin.

GENERAL PROBLEMS OF THE PRIOR ART The drawbacks of those known systems are that they make it impossible to prepare exactly pre-determined lengths of thread, and that when the thread is drawn off the conical body, several windings can slip off together, giving rise to the hazard of snarling.

Another drawback of the known systems is that they cannot ensure a constant tension of the weft thread during the pick.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks and further provide the advantage that entire weft thread lengths can be prepared in advance and stored separately from each other, with the choice of taking either single wefts or so-called hairpin wefts from the storing device, so that the loom need not be abruptly stopped in the event of any trouble arising in the take-off of yarn from the supply bobbins. The process claimed hereunder is characterized in that the weft yarn is drawn from a supply and laid as a continuous single thread in forming reversal loops in a straight path in zigzag fashion back and forth on at least one body, the arrangement being such that the yarn is held on the body at its reversal loops.

The weft yarn storing device claimed hereunder is characterized in that it comprises at least one element for the catching and laying of the thread and also two groups of holders for holding the reversal loops of the laid thread.

The advantage of this storing device is in particular that its small radial space requirement permits several such storing devices to be installed in the same loom, so that it is possible to weave several types of yarn concurrently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a view of a storing body with a weft yarn loading device;

FIG. 2 shows the same arrangement viewed from A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the storing body along line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section along line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a variant of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows a weft yarn storing device with the thread lines on a layout of the cylindrical body and the path thereof up to the picking element, in diagram, for single weft picking and a weaving width equal to the length of the storing body;

FIG. 7 shows an arrangement similar to that in FIG. 6 for single weft picking and a weaving width double the length of the storing body;

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement similar to that in FIG. 6, for single weft picking and a weaving width treble the length of the storing body;

FIG. 9 shows an arrangement similar to that in FIG. 6, but for hairpin picking;

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a weft yarn parting device on the storing body;

FIG. 11 shows the working principle of the weft yarn transfer device, in diagram;

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a device according to FIG. 1 1, in perspective, in one of its end positions;

FIG. 13 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 12, in the other end position;

FIG. 14 shows further details of the embodiment according to FIG. 12 and 13 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings: A body 1 of circular cross-section has a jacket surface 2 which is connected by spokes 3 to a hub 4. The hub 4 is periodically driven from one of its ends by a driving device provided for instance, by means of a suitable timing gear curved axial outer edge 10 of an annular cover 11 arranged at a small distance from the radial outer edge of the said blades 7. The cover 11 is secured to the loom by a holder 51. It has a cut-out portion 12. Its axial inner edge 13 is also radially curved inwards (FIG. 3). The end of the jacket surface 2 facing the said worm wheel 5 is provided with radially arranged fork-shaped elements' 14 which are evenly spaced round the circumference and which are displaced with respect to the blades 7 by half the pitch of the latter and whose throat 50 facing the said blades 7 can be closed by a pin 15 that can slide axially across the said opening. The pin 15 is actuated by known means, such as controlled solenoids 52 or the like, acting through a toggle lever 16 loaded by a spring 17, in such a manner that the fork throat can be opened or closed as required, The forkshaped elements 14 may be fixed at varying axial distances from the blades 7, if necessary by some slidable arrangement.

Coming from supply bobbins 54 fixed outside the loom shed, weft yarn 18 is passed through a tube 19 with outlet 49 up to a point close to the base plane 64 of the cylindrical body 1 facing away from the worm wheel 5, at a radial distance from the axis 56 of the said body 1 which corresponds approximately to the inner curved fore edge of the cover 11. The tube 19 is secured to the loom frame 58 by a movable support 57 which is actuated by controlled solenoids 60 or the like and which can hold the tube 19 in two alternative positions (FIG. 2) C (dash-dotted line) and D (solid line) located axially slightly outside the cut-out 12 of the cover 1 1.

Arranged symmetrically with the center plane of the cut-out 12 is the loading device, which serves to bring the weft yarn 18 onto the storing device. In the embodiment shown, the loading device comprises two continuous chains 22, 23, which are carried by two twin sprockets 20, 21 and which are each movable in a plane symmetrical with the center plane of the cut-out 12. One of the twin sprockets, such as the sprocket 20, for instance, is the driving sprocket, while the other is a chain-tensioning sprocket. The rotational axes 62 of the sprockets 20, 21 are normally located outside the space 66 confined by the two base planes 64, 65 of the cylindrical body 1. Arranged between the two chains 22, 23 are fork-shaped two-armed dogs 24, 25 pivotally mounted on common chain pins 68 as pivots. A roll 26 is rotatably mounted on a pin 27 fitted to the free end of the one arm 69 of each dog 24, 25 and located between the two inner faces 70, 71 thereof. The end of the forward arm as viewed in the direction of dog movement is shaped as a hook 28. The distance 72 between the inner faces 70, 71 of the said dogs 24, 25 is greater than the thickness 74 of the radially arranged fork-shaped elements 14. A spring 29 stressed between a pin 30 on the chain and a pin 31 on the dog holds the dogs 24, 25 against a cam 45. The cam 45 with its guiding edge 32, 32' has an axially slidable insert 46 which fixes the axial position of a recess 47 of the guiding edge 32. The spring 29 ensures that the roll 26 is always firmly held against the guiding edge 32, 32'. The whole weft yarn loading device is so arranged with respect to the weft yarn storing device that the throat 33 of the hooks 28 in the operative position of the latter moves at approximately the same distance from the jacket surface 2 of the cylindrical body 1 as the inner curved fore edge 10 of the. cover 11. FIG. 1 shows a portion of weft yarn 18 between the tube 19 and a blade 7, a stored portion of weft yarn 18" on the jacket surface 2 and a portion of weft yarn 18" which is located between the storing device and a known weft yarn feeding device, not shown, for a pirn-less weft picking element of known type, not shown. a

The jacket surface 2 of the cylindrical body 1 is surrounded over more than three-fourths of its circumference between the blade 7 and the fork-shaped elements 14 by a fixed cover 37 (FIGS. 3, 4, 5) which ap proximately begins under the one edge 76 of the cutout 12 of the cover 1 1 in the direction of the center axis 56 of the cylindrical body 1 and at least approximately ends under the other edge 77 of the cut-out 12 in the direction of the center axis of the cylindrical body. A

- support 35 of the cover 37 is near the end thereof and the loading device. At its free longitudinal edge 78, the outer surface 79 of the cover 37 follows the jacket surface 2 at a short distance, but without touching it. Thence it gradually increases its distance therefrom until, after about a quarter of its circumference, it reaches a distance 80 from the jacket surface 2. Such distance :must be slightly greater than the distance 81 of the fore edge 10, but preferably smaller than that of the outer surface 83 of the cover 1 l. The ends 34 of the cover 37 are drawn in and preferably follow the jacket surface 2 at a short distance, with a gentle transition from the cover 37 to its drawn-in edges; see FIG. 3. In at least its last third in circumferential direction, the cover 37 is cylindrical between its drawn-in edges 34. In that portion, it is covered by a cylindrical cover 36 held by movable supports 84. This cover is provided on its inside with a yielding lining 38, such as velvet or pile hair. The supports 84 are actuated by known means, not shown. They can give the cover 36 a radial lifting movement with respect to the cover 37, in order to bring the thread between cover 37 and lining 38 when the body 1 rotates, and hold the thread when the body 1 is at rest. By way of a variant, the cover 36 could be replaced with a continuous cloth 39 lined on one side with velvet or hair (FIG. 5) and stretched over three rotatable rollers 40, 41 and 42. Two of these rollers 41 and 42 are fixed-mounted very near the cover 37, while the third roller 40 is movably mounted and tensions the cloth by means of a spring 43. At least one of the rollers 41 and 42 mounted near the cover 37 is driven.

The weft yarn storing device functions as follows:

Driven at constant speed by a motor, notshown, the sprocket 20 transmits to the chains 22, 23 a movement which, in the chain portion nearer the jacket surface 2 of the cylindrical body 1; is directed from the end of the body 1 bearing the radial blades 7 towards the end of the jacket surface 2 bearing the fork-shaped elements 14.

Even before the hooks 28 of the dogs 24, 25 reach the base plane 64 of the cylindrical body 1, facing away from the worm wheel 5, the rolls 26 of thedogs 24, 25

are guided by the edge 32' of the cam 45 in such a way that they cause the hooks 28 to swing into their operative position. Periodically driven from the driving assembly 5,6 the cylindrical body 1 performs an intermittent rotating movement which is so synchronized with I the movement of the loading device that the cylindrical body 1 stands still so long as one of the dogs 24, 2 5 is moving between the two base planes 64 and 65 of the cylindrical body 1. It is basically also possible to have the body 1 rotate continuously, with the particular elements dimensioned accordingly. When entering the cut-out 12, the hooks 28 of the dogs 24, 25 engage the portion of weft yarn 18 which extends between the apex 44 of the outer edge 8 of the blade 7 located approximately radially inside the edge of the cut-out l2, and the outlet 49 of the tube 19 in position D, and draw the said portion of weft yarn towards the fork-shaped elements 14. The pin 15 of the fork-shaped element 14 which happens to be at least approximately inthe center plane of the cut-out 12 has already been actuated by the control means 52 in conjunction with the associated toggle lever 16, so that the fork of that parlowed by the roll 26 under the pull of the spring 29,

with the result that the dog 24 tilts and its hook 28 becomes inoperative, as the yarn slips off it and is now A I retained by the pin 15. During the periodical rotating movement of the cylindrical body 1, which proceeds in the direction from the beginning towards the end of the cover 37, i.e. anti-clockwise according to FIG. 4, the weft yarn portions 18" held between pin and fore edge 8 of the radial blades run on to the outer surface 79 of the cover 37 and are thus stretched, so that the danger of tangling and snarling is ruled out. During the intermittent rotation of the body 1, the supports 84 of the cover 36 are actuated in such a way that the latter, lined with yielding material 38, moves away from the cover 37, or in the case of the variant shown in FIG. 5, the driven roller 41, 42 is set rotating. This latter rotation is so planned that the portion of the continuous cloth 39 sweeping over the cover 37 moves in the same direction and at the same speed as the weft yarn portions 18" sweeping over the cover 37. In the process, those weft yarn portions pass in between the cover 37 and the cover 36 or the cloth 39 and are held in that position. During standstill of the cylindrical body 1, the weft yarn portions 18" located between the cover 37 and the lining 38 or the cloth 39 are led by laterdescribed and not specifically shown, known means (e.g. Swiss Pat. Nos. 149,666 and 146,825) along the path of the weft yarn portion 18" to the weft picking element and carried into the loom shed. In the process, the particular pins 15 are again actuated to open the forks of the elements 14. The braking action of the yielding material 38 lining the inside of the cover 36 (FIGS. 3, 4) or the cloth 39 (FIG. 5) ensures a desirable at least approximately constant tension in the weft yarn portion 18 thus ruling out the danger of tangling of the released weft yarn portions 18". When no weft yarn is to be stored on the storing device, the tube 19 is brought into its position C in which no weft yarn 18 is stretched before the cut-out 12, so that the hooks 28 of the dogs 24, 25 meet with a void when entering the cut-out 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the edge 8 of the blades 7 presents a slot 85. Arranged at the other end of the cylindrical body 1 are pins 86, corresponding to the pins 15 (FIG. 1), which also have a longitudinal slot 88.

Weft yarn parting devices controlled separately from outside (FIG. 10) are movable in the direction of the rotational axis 56 of the cylindrical body 1. They are each arranged before at least a slot 85 of a blade 7 or a slot 88 of a pin 86 in the standstill positions of the body 1. Their angular position with respect to the weft yarn extraction point of the body 1 is adjustable and depends on the weft thread length to be picked, as according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, for instance.

In the embodiment shown, the weft yarn parting device comprises a knife edge 90 (FIG. 10) which is fixed to the plunger of a solenoid 91 and can run into the slot 85 of a blade 7 or the longitudinal slot 88 of a pin 86.

The device transferring the weft yarn from body 1 to the weft picking element 127 (shuttle, hook, etc.) presents two hooks 93 and 94 (FIGS. 11 to 14) which are each fixed to the plunger of two solenoids 96 and 97. These solenoids 96 and 97 are carried on the free ends of two pivoted arms 99 and 100. The other ends of the pivoted arms 99 and 100 (FIGS. 12 14) are pivotally mounted in the bearings 102 and 103 of two carrying arms 105 and 106. These carrying arms 105 and 106 slide in guides 108, 109 in the loom frame and are shifted by solenoids 111 and 112 against springs 113 and 114. The plunger extensions of the solenoids 96 and 97 are guided in the guide slots 116 and 117 of a plate 118 (FIGS. 12, 13).

The ends of two swinging arms 119, 120 (FIGS. 12- 14) which are each fixed on a concentrically mounted longitudinally slidable shaft 122 and a hollow shaft 123 carry fork-shaped grippers or clamps 124 and 125. These, in their take-over position, take up a position which is located on the straight line connecting the hooks 93 and 94 (FIG. 11) when these are both in their transfer position. The distance between the legs of the grippers 124, 125 is greater than the thickness of the weft picking element 127.

A knife 128 controlled by external means (FIGS. 6, 9, 11, 13, 14) acts in a plane between the grippers 124 and 125. The shaft 122 (FIG. 14) and the hollow shaft 123 are slidably and rotatably mounted in a guide 130 of the loom frame and are also slidably but rotationpositively mounted in collars 132, 133 connected by levers 134, 135 to the plungers of fixed solenoids 137 and 138. The weft picking element 127 is provided with grippers 140 and is in a waiting position. The grippers 124, 125 are lifted to the level of the weft picking element 127 by a cam 141; in the process, the shafts 122 and 123 are pressed against the cam 141 by a helical spring 142.

FIGS. 6 9 show the cylindrical body 1 partially laid out so that in the drawing plane the particular blades 7 are visible on the one side, and the pins 86 (corresponding to the pins 15 in FIG. 1) on the other side. The weft thread is accordingly carried back and forth, forming loops, over the periphery of the body, as previously described in detail (FIGS. 1 5). As described below, this weft thread 18" is taken from the weft yarn storing device and led to the weft picking element 127, so that the latter, when passing, can catch the particular thread end and pull the weft thread into the loom shed.

In single picking, the following takes place:

The weft yarn take-over device, as previously described, has the same plane of symmetry through the longitudinal axis 56 of the cylindrical body 1 as has the loading device, except that the former is diametrically opposite the latter (e.g. FIG. 14). During the standstill periods of the body 1, when the weft yarn loops 18" are being laid by means of the hooks 28 of the loading device, previously described as a chain assembly, the hooks 93 and 94, which have meanwhile been brought to a radial distance y from the center axis 56 by the solenoids 111, 112, punched-card-controlled, for instance (FIG. 12) which distance y is slightly smaller than the distance 2 of the apex 44 of the blades 7 engage the corresponding slot 85. In the process, the hooks 93 and 94 are close to each other, owing to the guide grooves or guide slots 1 16, 1 17. The action of the swinging arms 119 and 120 and that of the solenoids 96 and 97 can also be controlled by punched card. As soon as the solenoids 111 and 1 12 are de-energized, the springs 1 13 and 114, acting through arms 105, 106, and 99, 100 and solenoids 96, 97, push the hooks 93 and 94 back, i.e. parallel to the base plane 144 and radially outward from the cylindrical body 1, so that these hooks 93 and 94 towards the solenoids 96 and 97, in

such a way that these hooks 93 and 94, moving in the direction of the rotational axis 56 and away from the cylindrical body 1, pull the caught weft yarn loop 18" over the edging of the cover 11. During this drawingout of the loop 18", the carrying arms 105 and 106, acting under the pressure of the springs 113 and 114, move to the left in FIG. 13 and thus draw out in radial direction the loop a 18" being drawn out in axial direction 56. The guide slots 116 and 117 ensure that the two hooks 93 and 94 move apart in the manner shown in FIG. 13, so that at the end of the process the extracted loop takes on the triangular form 18"a, 18"

l 18"b shown in FIG. 13. During the movement of the hooks 93 and 94 for drawing out and spreading the loop 18"a, 18" 18"b, at least one of the knives 90 which, as previously mentioned, are located before the blades 7 or the pins 86 between the loading device and the take-over device, is actuated, as described below, in

the case of single picking, according to the weaving width and therefore, to the weft thread length. The weft yarn is cut at this cutting point.

' As shown in FIG. 13, the parting of the hooks 93 and 94 stretches the weft yarn portion 18" located between them, and in that stretched condition the said weft portion passes into the fork-shaped grippers 124, 125 fixed to the ends of the swinging arms 119, 120 (FIGS. 12, 13 and 14). Once the thread is held tight by the said grippers, the knife 128 cuts it, as shown in particular in FIGS. 11 and 13. The weft yarn loop 18" pulled out of the storing body 1 by the take-over device is therefore parted intothe two parts 18"a and 18"b. The part 18"28 a is below the plane of action and symmetry 144 (FIGS. 12,13), while the other part 18"b is above that plane. The part 18"a of the two is taken over by the gripper or clamp 124 on the lower swinging arm 1 19, while the other part 18"b is taken over by the gripper 125 on the upper swinging arm 120 (FIG. 13). In order to transfer'the two weft yarn parts 18"a and 18"b to the picking element 127, the swinging arms 119, 120 are first lifted by the cam 141 (FIG. 14) until the lower swinging arm 1 19 is at the level of the picking element 127. Then the lower swinging arm 119 is swung out by means of the solenoid 138 and the lever 135 (FIG. 14). In the process, the picking element 127 is overswept by the gripper 124, and the weft yarn part 18"a held by the latter is transferred to the gripper 140 of the picking element 127. The transfer of the second weft yarn part 18"b before the next pick is effected similarly, in that the swinging arms 119, 120 are lowered by the cam 141 until the upper swinging arm 120 reaches the level of the picking element 127. Th cycle is now-complete and begins afresh.

In order to eliminate any undue resistance at the storing body endangering the weft yarn during weft yarn transfer and pick, the pins 86 located between the In FIG. 14, the path of the ends of the plungers of the solenoids 96 and 97 is shown by broken lines and marked a-b-c-d-e-f and a'-b'-c'- -e'-f, accordingly. In this, a means the starting position of the two hooks 93 and 94 before catching the weft yarn loop 18".

The movement of the carrying arms and 106 shifts the hooks 93 and 94 with the solenoids 96 and 97 accordingly, in which process the plungers are guided at one end, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in the guide slots 116 and 1 17, so that, according to their path, the two hooks 93 and 94 move apart and so stretch the outer loop 18"a, 18" 18"b. When the carrying arms 105 and 106 have reached their extreme position, this corresponds to the points f and f in the line shown. In this, of course, the movements of the hooks 93 and 94 do not proceed along the straight lines b, c, d, e, f shown; instead, according to the mechanical design, there is a superimposition of the two mutually perpendicular movements, viz. the axial movement with respect to the cylindrical body 1 and the radial movement' with respect thereto, on the one hand, and a movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis 56, on the other.

FIG. 6 shows a weft yarn storing device in which the weft yarn is planned for a weaving width approximately corresponding to the length L of the storing body. The thread placed ready for drawing-off on the storing device must therefore have double the length L, so

that, as shown in FIG. 6, the knife 90 at each pin 86 cuts the weft thread. The hooks 93 and 94 draw the thread away from the storing device 1 in the manner described, stretch the yarn loop, transfer it to the grippers 124 and 125 and then cut the loop 18" by means of the knife 128 into two parts of which each has the length L. The grippper 124 then feeds the first part 18"a to the picking element- 127 or its gripper 140, which pulls the thread of length L through the loom shed and releases it. The picking element 127 then returns to catch the second thread 18"b, fed by the gripper 125 and pulls it through the loom shed. During this process, the cylindrical body 1 has rotated by the pitch of a blade 7, so that the hooks 93 and 94 can pull the next loop 18"a, 18" 18"b from the next blade 7 in the manner described as soon as the knife 90 has again cut the thread of 2L length at the pin 86.

FIG. 7 shows an arrangement similar to that in FIG. 6, except that the thread has to be prepared according to a weaving width of about 2L. The knife 90 is therefore on the side of the blades 7, because the total length a of the particular thread drawn off in a single operation must be 4L. For the rest, the process is similar to that in FIG. 6, with the difference that during the pick of both loop halves the cylindrical body 1 has rotated by double the pitch of a blade 7. g

In the version shown in FIG. 8, the weaving width is about 3L, so that the knife 90 is again arranged on the side of the pins 86, and the prepared cut loop must have the length 6L, as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the cylindrical body 1 rotates by treble the pitch of the blades 7 during the pick of the two loop halves.

For hairpin picking, the one end of the weft thread is caught by the picking element and pulled through the loom shed and released. Then the picking element returns and catches the other end of the thread, pulls it through the following loom shed and releases it. This results in a weft thread which forms a loop at the outermost warp thread, resulting in a weft thread formation curved in hairpin fashion.

Thus, by this picking method, the weft yarn is no longer cut at the storing body 1, but is merely cut by the knife 128 between the two fork-shaped grippers 124 and 125. This process is shown in diagram in FIG. 9. It should be noted here that the first pick for hairpin formation in the fabric is in each case formed by the weft yarn piece which is transferred to the picking element 127 at the end of the take-over/transfer process. In the case of the hairpin weft thread, it is the front end, while the rear end is only transferred as the first end to the lower gripper 124 in the next cycle. The so-called hairpin in the fabric is thus completed by the first weft yarn piece 18"a which is transferred by the succeeding takeover/transfer process at the lower swinging arm 119 to the picking element 127. In the process, there remains between the fabric edge and the fore edge 10 of the cover 1 1 of the storing device a piece of weft yarn which belongs to the weft yarn length of the second pick of the hairpin. Accordingly, at the second pick, the total weft yarn length stored on the storing body 1 must be shortened by that weft yarn length g. This shortening is effected by axial displacement by the distance h of at least one of the fork-shaped elements 14 holding the second weft thread portion of the hairpin as shown in FIG. 9; in this, according to a weaving width approximately equal to double the thread portion length on the storing device, every second element 14 with pin 86 is displaced with respect to the blades 7 in such a manner that the double displacement distance 2h corresponds to the distance between the fabric edge and the fore edge 10.

During the take-over/transfer process, preferably only the two adjacent forks 14, 50 located on both sides of the plane of action 144 of the weft yarn transfer device are at first opened by retraction of the pins 86, as shown in FIG. 9. The opening of further forks 14, 50 which form the loops of the weft yarn length to be picked for the particular hairpin portion is only effected shortly before the particular pick.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed which is illustratively offered and that modifications may be made without departing from the invention; and that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for storing weft yarn to supply loom including supply means exteriorly of a loom shed, characterized by means for storingweft yarn as a continuous single thread having terminal loops,

said means comprising a body member including a plurality of opposed holders for receiving reversed-loops of a continuous thread;

loading means for traversing between said opposed holders and continuously depositing reversedloops on said holders, said apparatus including removal means for engaging a terminal loop,

said removal means comprising portions for spreading the terminal loop, and means for cutting these selected terminal loops.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said portions for spreading said loops comprises poweroperated gripper-hook elements.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including angularly related guide operatively connected to said gripper-hook elementsfor orienting an extracted loop in triangular relation from one of said holders.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a pair of space grippers positionable on opposite sides of said cutting means.

5. Apparatus set forth in claim 4 in which said grippers include pivotal levers, and power operated means operatively connected to said pivoted levers.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said body member is mounted for rotation on a longitudinal axis from which said opposed holders are radially disposed.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said body member includes means for intermittently rotating the same in one direction about its longitudinal axis.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said two groups of holders are circumferentially spaced at an equal pitch about opposite ends of said body member, one of the groups of holders being displaced one half the pitch of said other group of holders.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which at least one group of said holders include means for releasably retaining reversed loops.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means adjustably mounting one group of thread holders for longitudinal adjustment on said body (1) for determining different lengths of weft.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said loading means is mounted in a closed path of movement.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said loading means comprises an endless chain having one run confronting and traversing a path of movement between the opposed holders, and hook members pivotally mounted in spaced relation on and along said endless chain.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including an adjustably mounted cam having control edge disposed along the path of travel of said endless chain run confronting said holders.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including means on said hook members for controlling operation of said hook elements.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which said hook members include spaced elements engageable on opposite sides of the holders of one of said groups of holders.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including an ani nular collar, circumposed about one of said groups of holders at one end of said storage body, said annular collar being slotted and opening toward said loading means.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 16 in which said body member is cylindrical and has circumposed about a substantial extent thereof a cover member and incorporates an elongated longitudinal slot opening towards said loading means.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 in which said housing is fixedly secured at one end, said housing diverging radially from a free edge toward its fixed end, said storage body being rotatably mounted on a longitudinal axis, said body including portions imparting tension to the zig-zag runs of thread on said storage body.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a tubular loading thread guide having an outlet end operatively related to portions of said loading means.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 including means displaceably supporting said tubular guide for permitting said tubular guide to be oriented into a stored position.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 including a movable cover having a yieldable inner surface, said yieldable inner surface having portions for isolating individual runs of thread for preventing snarling and tangling thereof asthe weft yarn is laid down and stored between said opposed holders.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 including means for preventing snarling and tangling of the runs of thread on said weft yarn storing body member, said means for preventing snarling and tangling of the thread comprising a belt pressed against the outer cover and including means synchronizing rotation of said belt in the same direction as said storing body.

23. An apparatus for storing weft yarns drawn from supply means outside of the shed for weaving prior to inserting said yarns by means of a pimless picking element into the shed of a weaving loom including:

means for storing weft yarns as acontinuous single thread having terminal loops, said means comprising a cylindrical body member mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and including a plurality of radially disposed holders at each end of the cylindrical body member for receiving reversed-loops of the continuous thread, at least one group of said holders including means for releasibly retaining reversed-loops whereas at least the other group of holders is circumposed by a fixedly mounted annular collar for guiding the weft thread removed from the holders, said collar incorporating an elongated slot;

continuously moving loading means for traversing the length of the cylindrical body member between said opposed holders through the longitudinal slot and continuously depositing uniform reversedloop on said holders in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical body member about its longitudinal axis; and

a thread guide means having an outlet and operatively related to the longitudinal f slot and loading means.

24. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 23 including removal means for engaging a terminal loop, said removal means comprising portions for spreading the terminal loop.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 in which said portions for spreading said loops comprises poweroperated gripper-hook elements.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 including angularly related guides operatively connected to said gripper-hook elements for spreading the extracted loop.

27. An apparatusas claimed in claim 24 said removal means including a pair of clamping means for clamping the spreaded portion of the selected terminal loops and means for cutting the terminal loops between the clamping means.

28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 in which said men ber has circum sed about a substantial exten ereo a cover mem [,Sfild cover member 30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 28 including means for preventing snarling and tangling of the runs of thread on said weft yarn storing body member, said means comprising a movable cover having a yieldable inner surface, said yieldable inner surface having portions for isolating individual runs of thread.

31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 28 including means for preventing snarling and tangling of the runs of thread on said weft yarn storing body member, said means comprising a belt pressed against the outer cover and including means synchronizing rotation of said belt in the same direction as said storing body member.

32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 in which said body member includes means for step by step rotating the same in one direction about its longitudinal axis.

33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 in which said two groups of holders are circumferentially spaced at an equal pitch corresponding to the intermittent motion of the body member one of the groups of holders being displaced one half of the pitch of said other group of holders.

34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 whereby the thread guide means may be selectively displaced across the entrance to the longitudinal slot in front of the path of movement of the loading means from a non-operative position in which loading means do not engage weft yarns to an operative position in which loading means engage weft yarns.

35. Apparatus as claimed in claim 34 whereby the cylindrical body member is interrupted in its forward step by step movement when the thread guide means is placed in the non-operative position.

36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 including means adjustably mounting one group of holders for longitudinal adjustment on said body holder for determining different lengths of weft.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,680,600 Dated Aug. 1, 1972 Inventor(s) Allan W. H. P011281 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 41, after "gear" insert the following:

--and acting through a worm 6 and a worm wheel 5. The end of the jacket surface 2 facing away from the worm wheel 5 is provided with radial blades 7 which are evenly spaced around the circumference and which are of e as]. height and equal length. The axial outer edge 8 of each b ads is bent inwards, forming a re-entrant ,angle whose apex 44 is directed axially towards the interior of the jacket surface 2 and whose radially out leg 9 is just so long that it is approximately covered by the inward- Column 7, line 39, delete "28".

Colmm 7, line 44, after "gripper" insert -or clamp--.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1973..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer I Commissioner of Patents FORM po'wso USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I!!! 0-366-334 

1. An apparatus for storing weft yarn to supply loom including supply means exteriorly of a loom shed, characterized by means for storing weft yarn as a continuous single thread having terminal loops, said means comprising a body member including a plurality of opposed holders for receiving reversed-loops of a continuous thread; loading means for traversing between said opposed holders and continuously depositing reversed-loops on said holders, said apparatus including removal means for engaging a terminal loop, said removal means comprising portions for spreading the terminal loop, and means for cutting these selected terminal loops.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said portions for spreading said loops comprises power-operated gripper-hook elements.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including angularly related guide operatively connected to said gripper-hook elements for orienting an extracted loop in triangular relation from one of said holders.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a pair of space grippers positionable on opposite sides of said cutting means.
 5. Apparatus set forth in claim 4 in which said grippers include pivotal levers, and power operated means operatively connected to said pivoted levers.
 6. The apparatus as set forth in claiM 1 in which said body member is mounted for rotation on a longitudinal axis from which said opposed holders are radially disposed.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said body member includes means for intermittently rotating the same in one direction about its longitudinal axis.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said two groups of holders are circumferentially spaced at an equal pitch about opposite ends of said body member, one of the groups of holders being displaced one half the pitch of said other group of holders.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which at least one group of said holders include means for releasably retaining reversed loops.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means adjustably mounting one group of thread holders for longitudinal adjustment on said body (1) for determining different lengths of weft.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said loading means is mounted in a closed path of movement.
 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said loading means comprises an endless chain having one run confronting and traversing a path of movement between the opposed holders, and hook members pivotally mounted in spaced relation on and along said endless chain.
 13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including an adjustably mounted cam having control edge disposed along the path of travel of said endless chain run confronting said holders.
 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including means on said hook members for controlling operation of said hook elements.
 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which said hook members include spaced elements engageable on opposite sides of the holders of one of said groups of holders.
 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including an annular collar, circumposed about one of said groups of holders at one end of said storage body, said annular collar being slotted and opening toward said loading means.
 17. The apparatus set forth in claim 16 in which said body member is cylindrical and has circumposed about a substantial extent thereof a cover member and incorporates an elongated longitudinal slot opening towards said loading means.
 18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 in which said housing is fixedly secured at one end, said housing diverging radially from a free edge toward its fixed end, said storage body being rotatably mounted on a longitudinal axis, said body including portions imparting tension to the zig-zag runs of thread on said storage body.
 19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a tubular loading thread guide having an outlet end operatively related to portions of said loading means.
 20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 including means displaceably supporting said tubular guide for permitting said tubular guide to be oriented into a stored position.
 21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 including a movable cover having a yieldable inner surface, said yieldable inner surface having portions for isolating individual runs of thread for preventing snarling and tangling thereof as the weft yarn is laid down and stored between said opposed holders.
 22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 including means for preventing snarling and tangling of the runs of thread on said weft yarn storing body member, said means for preventing snarling and tangling of the thread comprising a belt pressed against the outer cover and including means synchronizing rotation of said belt in the same direction as said storing body.
 23. An apparatus for storing weft yarns drawn from supply means outside of the shed for weaving prior to inserting said yarns by means of a pirnless picking element into the shed of a weaving loom including: means for storing weft yarns as a continuous single thread having terminal loops, said means comprising a cylindrical body member mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and including a plurality of radially disposed holders at each end of the cylindrical body membeR for receiving reversed-loops of the continuous thread, at least one group of said holders including means for releasibly retaining reversed-loops whereas at least the other group of holders is circumposed by a fixedly mounted annular collar for guiding the weft thread removed from the holders, said collar incorporating an elongated slot; continuously moving loading means for traversing the length of the cylindrical body member between said opposed holders through the longitudinal slot and continuously depositing uniform reversed-loop on said holders in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical body member about its longitudinal axis; and a thread guide means having an outlet and operatively related to the longitudinal slot and loading means.
 24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 including removal means for engaging a terminal loop, said removal means comprising portions for spreading the terminal loop.
 25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 in which said portions for spreading said loops comprises power-operated gripper-hook elements.
 26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 including angularly related guides operatively connected to said gripper-hook elements for spreading the extracted loop.
 27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 said removal means including a pair of clamping means for clamping the spreaded portion of the selected terminal loops and means for cutting the terminal loops between the clamping means.
 28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 in which said body member has circumposed about a substantial extend thereof a cover member, said cover member being fixedly secured at one end and diverging radially from a free edge near the outer surface of the body member in the plane of the slot progressively to an amount little superior to the inner face of the annular collar.
 29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, each clamping means comprising two spaced clamps disposed at the extremity of a pivotal lever, each lever being connected to power operated means.
 30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 28 including means for preventing snarling and tangling of the runs of thread on said weft yarn storing body member, said means comprising a movable cover having a yieldable inner surface, said yieldable inner surface having portions for isolating individual runs of thread.
 31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 28 including means for preventing snarling and tangling of the runs of thread on said weft yarn storing body member, said means comprising a belt pressed against the outer cover and including means synchronizing rotation of said belt in the same direction as said storing body member.
 32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 in which said body member includes means for step by step rotating the same in one direction about its longitudinal axis.
 33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 in which said two groups of holders are circumferentially spaced at an equal pitch corresponding to the intermittent motion of the body member one of the groups of holders being displaced one half of the pitch of said other group of holders.
 34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 whereby the thread guide means may be selectively displaced across the entrance to the longitudinal slot in front of the path of movement of the loading means from a non-operative position in which loading means do not engage weft yarns to an operative position in which loading means engage weft yarns.
 35. Apparatus as claimed in claim 34 whereby the cylindrical body member is interrupted in its forward step by step movement when the thread guide means is placed in the non-operative position.
 36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 including means adjustably mounting one group of holders for longitudinal adjustment on said body holder for determining different lengths of weft. 